The government on Wednesday cleared a Rs 10,200-crore order for ammunition for the Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher system, in a major boost to artillery modernisation.
The project was cleared by the Cabinet committee on security. Under this project, two types of ammunition would be procured for the Army, senior government sources told India Today.
Two contracts are scheduled to be signed by the end of the current fiscal year on March 31. These contracts include Rs 5,700 crore deal for high-explosive pre-fragmented ammunition and a Rs 4,500 crore deal for area denial munitions.
These orders would provide the necessary ammunition for the 10 Pinaka regiments already formed, with additional regiments in the pipeline.
The Pinaka rocket system has already proven its worth in the Indian Army, especially with some regiments deployed in high-altitude regions along the northern borders with China. The system’s capability to deliver precise strikes at high altitudes has made it one of the most advanced artillery rocket systems globally.
Developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), the Pinaka rocket system has seen impressive advancements. It boasts an extended range of up to 75 km, with plans in place to enhance it further to 120 km and eventually 300 km. This extended range is expected to shift the focus entirely onto Pinaka, potentially phasing out alternative long-range weapon systems.
